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To Belin
The early
morning light gave way to a beautiful morning, anchor up and away at a quarter
past eight and for a change no sailing on the spot today; in fact we could relax
from looking at the depth gauge every other second and really enjoy the views.
This part of the ICW is just one vast deep, wide river - The Waccamaw, no
markers to bother with. Spoke to a passing Captain – Joe on sailing yacht Onward
- we had met in the Bahamas, he said that the next leg of our journey took
us into a forested area – trees right to the water’s edge.
In fact we
saw trees IN the water,
apparently very happy and healthy. We saw the Osprey Marina and Grill sign,
crikey with fifteen miles warning - three hours away in our case. Bear said
the Wise Owl was trying to make amends for his absence
during his kidnap by bribing the osprey with food – feeding his friends to
win back their trust.
Have you
ever seen a lens cap used like a Japanese fighting
star,
Bear has.
Duck Bear
Duck
 
 
I have to
admit that there might be something in it though, as all of a sudden we were in
the osprey flight path, loads of
them
"Did someone say food"
 
I know I
wasn't to take any more pictures of dolphins unless they were doing a flipper
impression, standing on their tails in a backward motion, whilst wearing a pink
tutu, but.......OK so no Tutu
Talking of
different, Bear took a picture of what he called the
Junior Edition of the Tamar Ferry, I liked the slippery sign
though
A
while later I thought I saw something interesting. It’s just a log. Oh yes, how many logs have you met
with eyeballs and pointy things I replied. Our first really wild chap as the one we
saw at the Kennedy Space Centre didn't really count. This was on a deserted bit
of the ICW. Bear was at the wheel and I readily agreed when he offered to do a
'u-eee'. Had it been a narrow bit of the channel in shallow water I would had
said no, but too good an opportunity, so round he swung Beez. As we approached I
made a hissing sound, immediately the chap answered with his own low, baritone
hhhhheeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, then went to the grassy edge. Bear was good
enough to repeat the circuit but my new non friend just ducked under. Checking
the map we are at mile 421 - Alligator Creek.
 
Soon after we saw these intrepid folks in
their kayaks, little did they know what was just ahead around the
corner
Through a wide channel we had another 'tail
slapping session', easy to see as the fish were all over the surface in
their thousands
 
A side
turning took us from the main ICW and along a deep river to of all things a
beach. Belin.
We tried
to anchor, hooked a log, tried again - too deep and pulling, eventually we went
opposite the beach on the
other side of the channel. Whilst I did supper Bear dibbled his feet in the
water but was put off going in as the river bed let up bubbles and put him off,
thinkin' bout gators, honey. People came and
went, to jet ski, paddle, swim and dog walk. When everyone was gone and the
outboard motor noise had died the place was truly 'off a jigsaw box'.
Our last
civilised visitor was this handsome dragonfly, he
rested awhile, then sat beside me whilst I gave Bear a caning at backgammon -
cheek. I was worried his wings
would get cold and he may die overnight; so I offered him some vodka and diet
coke on the end of my finger. I think
you'll find he is teetotal.
Have you
ever seen anyone throw their dice in such a vicious manner.
Bear has.
Quiet Bear
quiet.
Well the
last laugh of this extraordinary day was on Bear. He plugged in the cockpit
light and within seconds bugs by the score wear all caught up in his fur
coat, dance, I didn't know you could dance.
ALL IN ALL WHOEVER SAID THE ICW WAS BORING AIN'T
GOT THEIR EYES OPEN Y'ALL
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